The Daily Big 3 Method: How I Learned to Accomplish More by Focusing on Less
How many times have you started your day with this massive to-do list, feeling all motivated and ready to conquer the world, only to get to 5 p.m. and wonder where the hell all your time went? You've been busy all day, but somehow you feel like you’ve got nothing meaningful to show for it.
Yeah, me too. And if you're a library director or manager, I'm willing to bet this hits even harder because you're juggling everything from grant applications to staff drama to that patron who insists the WiFi is down.
Here's what I've learned after years of feeling like I was spinning my wheels: The problem isn't that we don't work hard enough. The problem is that we're trying to do everything, and when you try to do everything, nothing gets the attention it deserves.
So let me tell you about this game-changing method that's helped me (and tons of library leaders I work with) actually feel accomplished at the end of the day. It's called the Daily Big 3, and it's crazy simple but remarkably effective.
What's the Daily Big 3?
The Daily Big 3 method, developed by leadership coach and productivity expert Michael Hyatt, is exactly what it sounds like—you pick three things to give your focus to every day. That's it.
Put another way: These are three essential tasks that absolutely need to happen for you to call your day a win. The tasks that, if you completed them and literally nothing else, you'd still feel good about your day.
I know what you're thinking: "Three things? That's it? But I have like 30 things on my list today!" Trust me, we'll get to that.
First, let me show you what good Daily Big 3 tasks actually look like:
Not-So-Great Examples:
"Work on summer reading program" (too vague—what does "work on" even mean?)
"Budget stuff" (seriously, this tells you nothing)
"Staff development" (again, super vague)
Much Better Examples:
"Send draft email to all branch managers about summer reading kickoff."
"Finish the Q3 materials budget spreadsheet and send to the CFO."
"Schedule individual check-ins with Elise, Sam, and Jocelyn."
See the difference? The good ones start with action words, they're specific, and you'll know for sure when they're done.
Why This Actually Works
It Forces You to Get Real About Priorities
I used to have to-do lists that were basically novels. Twenty-five items, color-coded, with little stars and exclamation points everywhere. I felt productive just making the list! (See my earlier post on “productive” procrastination.) But then I'd get to the end of the day and realize I'd spent two hours on busy work while my most important projects sat there untouched.
The Daily Big 3 forces you to have that uncomfortable conversation with yourself: "Okay, if I can only do three things today, what would they be?" Suddenly, you realize that responding to that non-urgent email from a vendor isn't nearly as important as finishing the grant proposal that's due next week.
I worked with one library director—let's call her Olivia—who was constantly stressed and working until 7 p.m. every day. She had this massive task list that she'd carry over from day to day, adding more items faster than she could cross them off. When she started using the Daily Big 3, something incredible happened. Not only did she start leaving work on time, but she accomplished more strategic stuff in three months than she had all year.
The secret sauce? She stopped treating every task like it was equally important.
It Actually Feels Good to Win
Here's something nobody talks about: that yucky feeling you get when you look at your half-finished to-do list at the end of the day. Even if you worked your butt off, even if you handled three mini-crises and helped two staff members through problems, you still feel behind because your list looks the same.
With the Daily Big 3, you have a clear definition of success. When you check off those three tasks—maybe you finalized your budget proposal, had that difficult conversation with an underperforming employee, and approved a new children's program—you get to feel genuinely accomplished. Those 15 emails in your inbox? They can probably wait until tomorrow. You've already won the day!
"But Wait..." (I Know What You're Thinking)
"Three Things Isn't Realistic—I Have Way More Than That!"
I hear this all the time, and I get it. But let me ask you something: When was the last time you actually finished your entire to-do list? Like, everything on it?
If you're like most people, the answer is probably somewhere between "rarely" and "literally never." So we're already not doing everything on our lists. The Daily Big 3 just makes sure that your best energy goes to the stuff that actually matters.
Plus, after you finish your Big 3, you can totally work on other stuff! The magic isn't that you only do three things all day. The magic is that you guarantee your most important work gets done first, before you get pulled into the whirlwind of "urgent" requests that aren't actually that important.
"What If I Don't Finish All Three?"
Life happens. An emergency meeting gets called. The HVAC system dies. Your kiddo needs to be picked up early from school.
If you consistently can't finish your three tasks, that's not failure; that's feedback. Maybe you need to break your tasks into smaller pieces. Maybe you're underestimating how long things take. Maybe you need to get better at saying "Can this wait until tomorrow?" to non-essential requests.
The beauty of this method is that it helps you notice patterns and adjust. One library manager I know realized she was constantly interrupted because she had an open-door policy during her most productive hours. She started blocking out an hour most mornings for her Big 3 work, and her productivity skyrocketed.
Your Next Move
Here's what I want you to do: Tomorrow morning, before you check your email, before you get sucked into the daily chaos, write down three things. Three specific, actionable tasks that would make tomorrow feel like a win.
Then fiercely protect those tasks like a dragon guards its treasure hoard. Do those tasks first. Let everything else wait.
I promise you'll be shocked at how different your day feels when you start with intention instead of reaction.
And if you want to take this even further? If you're ready to build a complete productivity system that actually works with your crazy schedule instead of against it? I'm working on something special.
I’ve developed a course called Sustainable Productivity, and it's going to be everything I wish someone had taught me years ago about managing my time, energy, and priorities without burning out.
Want in? Join the Sustainable Productivity Waitlist and start winning your days, one Big 3 at a time. Your team, your patrons, and your future self will thank you.
